SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called the wrongdoing exposed in the Tabung Haji inquiry a betrayal of trust, saying a loss-making body could not justify rewarding its staff.
The Prime Minister was asked about reports that Tabung Haji had paid its staff bonuses amounting to 13 months' salary.
He said that was only one of many problems raised in the report.
"How could a company making losses report in that way? How could rewards be given without regard for the standing of the institution?" he said after Friday prayers at a mosque in Paroi here.
Anwar said he was personally upset by the findings.
"I myself am upset," he said.
He said a religious body had been dishonoured by those entrusted with it.
"A religious institution, an Islamic institution, brought to shame by Malays who were given the trust. To me, that breach of trust is treachery," he said.
Anwar said the report should be read and debated first.
He said the matter was too serious to be judged by the state election, with polling on Saturday.
"It is not a matter of votes, but this is too massive an issue.
"Whether voters can grasp it in a short time is a separate matter. For me, win or lose, this cannot be tolerated," he said.
